WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – It's been a two-year journey for the Wisconsin women's lightweight rowing program to get to today's 2021 Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships.

Once there, the Badgers took on the Mercer Lake 2000-meter course and took second behind Princeton in the two-boat lightweight eight race.

In the lightweight four, the Badgers were behind Stanford and Boston University in the three-boat event.

Wisconsin's lightweight double finished fifth among six entries in the lightweight double sculls.

Straight From the Lake
Lightweight Coach Dusty Mattison
"I am so proud of our team. Today's individual boat results may not have been what we wanted them to be, but does not diminish what we have accomplished as a team. We were the only program to field all three lightweight events after a year that could have gone in a whole different direction. These women stayed the course, supported one another and put in the work.

"As overall team champs we know the foundation is strong. The team is excited to see where we will go over these next few years."

On the program's upperclasses
"The 2021 IRA's was the first ever for nearly 70 percent of our squad. Without the leadership and mentorship of our upperclassmen we would not be where we are today. They have led the team with love, honesty and unwavering loyalty."

On the support from volunteer coaches this season
"I also want to acknowledge my volunteer coaches Chris Lalande, Rebekah Armstrong and Lauren O'Connor. Their generosity and passion was off the charts. I will be forever grateful for the support they have given both the student-athletes and myself over this year."

2021 IRA National Championships
May 28, 2021
Mercer Lake
West Windsor, New Jersey
2000 meters

Lightweight Eight
1. Princeton, 7:42.729; 2. Wisconsin, 8:09.117
UW Lineup - Coxswain Eden Rane, Grace D'Souza, Darby Loveless, Alicia LeBars, Julia Johnson, Falcon Jaacks, Tessa Cockerill, Victoria Moda, Eveline Enthoven

Lightweight Four
1. Stanford, 8:23.749; 2. Boston University, 8:32.782; 3. Wisconsin, 9:13.755
UW Lineup - Coxswain Mya Lebakken, Tori Kost, Claire Carlson, Grace DeNunzio, Camila Darvin

Lightweight Double
1. Boston University, 9:08.729; 2. Stanford, 9:27.155; 3. Oklahoma City, 9:32.732; 4. Princeton, 9:44.562; 5. Wisconsin, 9:45.830; 6. Gordon, 9:59.029
UW Lineup - Miranda Gilbertson, Claire Friedlander